The Toronto Blue Jays won the race to sign up pitching ace David Price from the Detroit Tigers.

Price, a former Tampa Bay Rays ace, has joined one-time divisional rivals the Blue Jays, which is sure to bolster the Toronto ballclub's bid to end their 21-year drought from being involved in the post-season.

In return, the Blue Jays sent Daniel Norris, Matt Boyd and Jairo Labourt to Detroit.

Blue Jays general manager Alex Anthopoulos said Price is clearly the bullpen's leader - and claimed they had not had a definitive star on the mound in six years.

"We really haven't had a true number one since Roy Halladay was here," Anthopoulos told a news conference.

Elsewhere, the New York Yankees brought in Dustin Ackley, the Seattle Mariners' man heading to the Big Apple in exchange for Ramon Flores and Jose Ramirez.

The St Louis Cardinals traded for Brandon Moss from the Cleveland Indians, parting company with minor-league pitcher Rob Kaminsky in exchange.

Mat Latos and Alex Wood departed the Miami Marlins for the West coast and the Los Angeles Dodgers, who were forced to give up Hector Olivera in a 13-player, three-team trade - the latter ending up at the Atlanta Braves.

Outfielder Carlos Gomez was traded to the Houston Astros, while pitcher Mike Fiers found himself at the Milwaukee Brewers as compensation.